Statistical Analysis of Multiple Phenotypes in Genetic Epidemiologic Studies: From Cross-Phenotype Associations to Pleiotropy.

ABSTRACT: In the context of genetics, pleiotropy refers to the phenomenon in which a single genetic locus affects more than 1 trait or disease. Genetic epidemiologic studies have identified loci associated with multiple phenotypes, and these cross-phenotype associations are often incorrectly interpreted as examples of pleiotropy. Pleiotropy is only one possible explanation for cross-phenotype associations. Cross-phenotype associations may also arise due to issues related to study design, confounder bias, or nongenetic causal links between the phenotypes under analysis. Therefore, it is necessary to dissect cross-phenotype associations carefully to uncover true pleiotropic loci. In this review, we describe statistical methods that can be used to identify robust statistical evidence of pleiotropy. Fir

SUBMITTER: Salinas YD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5889027 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature